Mother's day and MORE!

The MORE...let's start with the more! We have just been going non-stop. If it's not one thing it's another, if it rains, it pours, etc. I feel like I have been saying these things all to often. I know I should be counting my blessings but I am also really starting to wonder when we are going to catch a break! A little less than two weeks ago, Bryan started feeling sick to his stomach. He said it felt like someone was taking a wet rag and ringing it out inside of his stomach. Sounded like a contraction if you ask me! Anyway, after days of no relief, he went to the dr to get checked out and looked so pitiful, and dehydrated, that they admitted him immediately! He was there overnight and released only to have a few not so fun to do procedures done over the next couple of days! Turns out he had an intestinal virus but missed an entire week of work. On Monday, Bryan's first day back at work, I somehow managed to forget that my baby, Cole, started crawling all over the place. He has always just laid in my bed in the morning's while I got ready, watching cartoons. Well not anymore. Sure enough I hear-SPLAT, and he had crawled straight off of the bed. Landed on his back on the carpet but I think I cried more than he did...not a good way to start off the week. Then I had to be that mother explaining at daycare what had happened to my poor child...and Bryan says the sad thing is, I should have learned my lesson after Parker did the same thing! Woops!
Not two days later, we get a call from Parker's teacher at daycare that he woke up from his nap...looking like this! Parker is highly allergic to bug bites, and after 2 days of doctor visits, 2 shots, and 3 prescriptions, his eye is finally starting to look better!






Now, onto the mothers day update! We pulled off the surprise of a lifetime for my mom for mother's day! She was going to be all alone, her husband in Tennessee doing disaster claims after the tornadoes and working most of the weekend. I felt bad and thought we (me and both brothers) should take this opportunity to all go down to BR since this was the first mothers day all three of her children have been in the same state in I don't know how many years. We left Saturday morning and suprised her at Our Lady of the Lake hospital at lunchtime that day! She was SO surprised, her brain did not even register what was happening at first and it took her a few minutes to realize that we were all there! It made for a great surprise! We ate, ate, and ate more and saw most of the family and made it home in time to spend some time with Bryan's mom Sunday night! Whew! Here are some pictures from Perkin's Rowe where we had lunch Sunday and Parrain's Seafood restaurant where we ate dinner Saturday night!





Things are finally slowing down, I guess :) We have Hayden's birthday party this weekend. I am finally getting settled into my new job and I absolutely love it. I am thinking about becoming an extreme couponer...only kidding, I don't have the time, but I am pretty addicted to the show. Here's a few more to end on! See you soon and happy birthday again to my sweet husband who turned a whopping 31 on Monday!

Gearing up for the big day!

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One week on the job!

Today marks my one week anniversary as the new Executive Director of Susan G. Komen For The Cure! Things have been great in the past week. I have met so many wonderful volunteers and I look forward to being a part of the fight to end breast cancer!

Speaking of breast cancer, Bryan's mom is in the fight of her life. After some horrible news about her cancer metasticizing to her brain, and two weeks of grueling radiation to the brain, she had another setback yesterday. She became really dehydrated and sick from all of her medications and the radiation, and was admitted to the hospital. She had some really great care while she was there as a long time employee of WK and was sent home yesterday. The new job is so flexible and for that I am so fortunate to be able to leave early, help them with laundry, groceries, etc. Please take a moment to say a prayer for her health and comfort and the strength of my husband in these times. I HATE cancer, and I know everyone does, but it has taken so many people from me already and I hate to let it win...

Parker and Cole are rocking and rolling! I can't wait for easter to take some great pictures of them all decked out! Here are a few I took of Cole in front of the Azalea's next door!



Parker scored in the 68th percentile on average on his speech test so he is really improving. This morning in the car on the way to school, he said "mommy, it's raining..." to most, that wouldn't be a big deal but it still completely catches me off guard to hear my BABY just talk to me like a grown up...using real sentences...sigh......Cole, well he's another story! God love him, but he is the laziest sole I have ever met. He has come to the realization that mommy and daddy WILL do everything for me, so why put out the effort when I have them! He is on the verge of crawling, but won't take the plunge...it's that one leg he won't take the weight off of for fear of face planting! He doesn't sit up in his crib, pull up on the sides, he just lays there in the morning's and waits for one of us to come get him!!! Lazy bones! But he is perfect, beautiful, healthy, and sweetest most loving child ever...I think we totally disproved the theory that the second child will do everything faster because he wants to keep up with his big brother :)Here are a few recent pics of the boys...we think it's really funny to catch them in their sleep!





We can't forget about Elmo, and Sesame Street Live! We lucked out at the last minute and scored some front row seats and backstage passes from a friend, and decided on a Parker and Mommy night out! We had a GREAT time, well...I had a great time. It started with the Bert & Ernie meet and greet. He wasn't so fond of them. The all of the characters in the show come down and constantly shake and dance with all of the kids on the front row! Well, Mr. Parker did NOT like this at all. He stayed in my lap 99% of the show but I think overall he enjoyed it!!!

My best friend is engaged!

Wow!!! It's been too long. I have to get better about making these posts. Today is March 18th! One of my besties got ENGAGED last night! Melanie Kirk will soon become Mrs. Cory Crozier!!! I am so happy for her! We are all going to the beach to celebrate in less than 3 weeks! I am so very happy for her for finding such a great man, and such a ROMANTIC!!! Maybe Bryan can take some lessons :)

It's hard to believe I will be celebrating my three year wedding anniversary with Bryan and my sons first birthday in less than 2 months! Cole was TEN months old yesterday. He is amazing. Besides being the most beautiful baby I have ever laid eyes on, he is the funniest, most attached, and most loveable angel. We have been doing regular checks at the doctor and it looks like he is just going to be "petite!" Sounds funny saying that about a litte boy but he's still staying on the growth curve, at the very VERY bottom, but he's still on the curve. They will take final measurements when he turns one. Cole's appetite has grown tremendously! He eats Gerber puffs like they are candy! He wants so badly to crawl, but just hasn't been able to figure out how to get that back leg to swing around! He's an angel. Sometimes, when Cole and I are home alone and sitting in the recliner together, I get overwhelmed with emotion holding onto him thinking about what we went through and how special he is to me.

Parker, Parker, Parker! Where do I start! Parker is officially two and a half! He is talking non stop and trying to form new sentences everyday! He is hilarious! I am still into the matching outfits and driving my husband crazy! Parker is trying so hard to potty train! He peepee's standing up in the potty at school, but we cannot get him to do that at home! He peepee's before baths and in the mornings, but we just can't get him to tell us when he wants to go! Parker eats anything! Parker loves cucumbers, chicken nuggets, apples, bananas, cheese sticks, and turkey! He's such a well rounded eater! My little men. I feel so lucky to have both of them. I just love them so much, they are so different yet so alike!

My brother Brian moved back to Shreveport a few weeks ago! He's not to thrilled about not being in Florida but he will adjust. I am just glad the boys are getting to know their uncle!!! He got a job in HR at Willis Knighton and I am so so glad he is home! Here are a few pics of the recent months!

The wonderful Holiday season

Today is December 28th. Today we took down our Christmas decorations and I feel like I am staring at an empty house. What an amazing few months it has been. November and December were both great. Not only because it was Cole's first Thanksgiving and Christmas, but because we got to spend both holidays with the people we love most, our family and friends. My mom actually came here for Thanksgiving and we had our first Thanksgiving holiday in our own house! We were joined by Bryan's parents, and my stepbrother Michael and stepdad Bob! With loads of fried turkey, dressing, sweet potato casserole and green bean casserole, it was a wonderful day! Two days after the turkey decor was put away, the tree was up, and the stockings hung! I love decorating for Christmas. We went to Baton Rouge to do our traditional Christmas eve night with my mom's side of the family. We did Christmas day morning with my dad and his new girlfriend Dawn, and Christmas night with Bryan's family. By the end of the night, we were EXHAUSTED. Santa was so good to the boys. Paker got a new Yamaha 4-wheeler, his favorite gift of all! Cole got a cell phone, new johnny jumper, and so many new toys I think he was overstimulated! Here are a few pics from the holidays!

More to come!!!

Wow, it's been almost three months since my last post...

I can't believe that I let this many weeks pass with no updating...shame on me...Cole just turned 5 months old and Parker had a 2nd birthday party! We also had Allie's (parkers girlfriend) birthday party, Cole's christening, a mommy and daddy beach trip and some really sad news about Bryans mom. We are praying for her everyday that she will beat her cancer for the second time and be with us for many years to come. Parker has gotten so big! He now feels like he can walk all the way next door to his mawmaw and pawpaws house by himself, up the stairs, and knock on the door all without me! His speech therapy is in full force now; he's had aout 5 sessions now and his progress is amazing! His favorite words are Elmo, daddy, pawpaw, Juice, outside, baby, Cole, candy, apple, and mom. He is now 2, and at his 2 year old check up,he was measuring in the 95th percentile for his weight, and the 80th for his height. He's a big boy! His party was great too. We had it next door since our new carport/patio wasn't quite finished. Parker also loves being outside. We try to take walks to the end of our street pretty often so he can see the horses. He's doing his animal sounds so well! Parker is in an Elmo phase. He falls asleep to Elmo in Grouchland every night. He is going to be Elmo for Halloween.

Cole turned 5 months old on the 17th! He has started laughing all the time, interacting with Parker, letting Parker poke him as he says "eyes, nose, teeth, etc..." He is also getting so big. At his 4 month checkup, he only weighed 13 pounds but he is gaining weight as we speak. He was in he 5th percentile for his height but he seems to be growing longer too. We are watching his growth chart, but so far everything seems A ok! We have started eating cereal out of a bowl and I can see him packing on the pounds. Cole also loves being outside, and loves to go on walks with mommy. He is going to bea spider for Halloween.

Mommy and daddy are doing good too. I had a little surgery on a lymph node in my neck that was swollen to the size of a large marble. After 10 doctor visits, including a trip to the infectious disease doctor, they determined I have a pretty big case of Cytomegalovirus, a sister disease to mononucleosis. I am still feelng the chestpain,but everything else has pretty much eased up. I had been so stressed out about being sick for so long, that we took a trip to Perdido Key, with no kids (my mom kept them in Baton Rouge) courtesy of Melanie and her gorgeous condo...that was MUCH needed and we had a wonderful time! It was mostly relaxing, although we did our fair share of having a good time too. We went to the Flora Bama one night, to Orange beach another day to watch the boat races in the ocean and to float the lazy river, and we ate lunch on the bay at this great place with the best grouper rueben on the planet! Mel's condo was amazing, and Bryan and I had out own balcony right in front of the ocean. We watched the sunrise and set every night! We finally finished most of the new addition to our house, the carport/storage room (or playroom) and the new patio. We still have a little more painting to do, the doors, columns, and to put floors in the playroom, and build a deck where our patio stones used to be, but it's looking great. What a great time to have this outdoor living space just as fall arrives. Finally, Bryan's moms breast cancer came back 2 months ago after 8 years in remission. October is breast cancer awareness month so be sure to get your mammogram if you are 40 or over, or do a breast self exam at any age to check for lumps. Awareness is the best prevention. She has completed 2 months of radiation, tomotherapy, and now we are waiting 6 weeks before the pet scan to see if the radiation worked. We all love mawmaw so much for all she has done for us and hope and pray she will be healed.